It is time for churches everywhere to see things as Jesus of Nazareth saw them.  That is to say, it is time for the people of God to become a radically inclusive community.  Story after story in the written gospels makes it clear that in Jesus' mind all are invited to sit at God's table.  There are no outsiders for Jesus.  All are included, all are invited.

Ironically, the only folks in the gospels who could be called outsiders are those who, out of religious pride and preju- dice, exclude themselves from God's inclusive reign.  In the gospel stories, it is the religious people who have con- vinced themselves that they are the only true insiders who have cut themselves off from the all-embracing love of God.  How do we create a spiritual community, a church that is inclusive in ways other than gender and race.  How do we form a spiritually vibrant church?

What seems to matter is how well a church seems to lead people to experience a live-wire spiritual connection with God - creator, Christ, and holy spirit.  Secondly, how well a church immerses people in religious practices that open and center them in Christ.  Finally, how well a church teaches people to theologically understand God's presence and activity in the world.

We need a balancing of our faith between religion, theology, and spirituality.  This balance is a balance between a personal life and church life.  Theology is the bones of faith.  Religion is the body of faith.  Spirituality is the breath of faith.  Each of us as disciples of God and Jesus Christ must learn how to balance our lives and to be inclusive of what God desires.  May God guide us as we seek Him for spiritual vibrancy and love that opens our hearts to em- brace God's creation.

Fondly, Pastor Bob

Pastor’s Corner

COSMIC CITY VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL IS COMING!!!

CALLING ALL CHILDREN!!!  Run to your calendar and mark the last week of June for Vacation Bible School!  It will be June 23 - 27..  We will meet in the mornings from 9:00 - 12:00.

Our theme will be Cosmic City ... Explore the Awesome Wonder of God.  Our church is inviting all children ages 3 to rising 5th graders to spend the weekday mornings with us.

If you came to Bible School last year, we will have similar activities such as drama, crafts, bible verses, songs, games and terrific refreshments.  Our theme will be outer space - awesome!

Newsletter Date May / June 2008

With Great honor CUMC presents its                    Seniors

Elizabeth Dauphinais

Elizabeth attends South Granville High School and is preparing to graduate in May.  Currently, she is also enrolled in an evening Certified Nursing Assistant class at Vance Granville Community College.  She ultimately expects to pur- sue a career as a Registered Nurse Practitioner or a Physician’s Assistant.  She plans to stay in the area while under- taking her required field of study.  Elizabeth works at Ruby Tuesday’s Restaurant.  Her hobbies include family out- ings, watching movies and relaxing.

Elizabeth began attending our church as a guest of the Heidegger family.  She enjoyed participating in the Adult Sun- day School classes and when an opening to lead the youth Sunday School class presented itself, she eagerly volun- teered.  She feels that her life experience helps her relate to the youth while providing valuable scripture lessons. She is grateful to have a leadership position in the church that allows her to do God’s will.  Her words of wisdom: “Things get hard, but God will be there with you even through the hard times.”

Harrison Shackelford

Harrison attends South Granville High School and must pass four required classes before graduation in May. Harrison is confident that he will complete the requirements as he plans to pursue possible fields of study in Philoso- phy, Religion or Theatre.  A second degree Black Belt (Instructor Tangs Soo Doo), he has been active in ROTC and Wrestling at SGHS. Harrison has interviewed at both Louisburg and Lees McRae College (his mother’s alma mater). Harrison began attending Creedmoor United Methodist Church around the age of 5.  He has grown up in the church while participating in many of the children’s and youth activities and groups.  He currently spends many hours a week with school work but still finds time for his martial arts, relaxing and watching TV, hanging out with friends and his passion – cars.  His words of wisdom:  “Life never turns out the way you think.”

Haley Ward

Haley attends South Granville High School and is preparing to graduate in May.  She plans to attend UNC Pembroke majoring in mass communications broadcasting and minoring in theatre and/or Spanish.  Haley also plans to live in a large city after graduation from college.  She currently works at the Edison Johnson Aquatic Center as a lifeguard and swim lessons instructor. This summer she will return to Camp Rockfish as a counselor.

Haley began attending Creedmoor United Methodist Church when she was in the first grade.  She grew up in the church, actively participating in many of the children’s and youth activities.  She has a very busy schedule with school studies and work.  She enjoys reading, swimming, acting and helping others.  Her words of wisdom: “Make the most out of your life; you only live it once.”

Jana Wilson James

Jana, a senior attending Raleigh Christian Academy, is a pitcher on the elite softball team the Dominators.

The Dominators placed 3rd in the national championship playoffs held in Colorado.  Jana is planning to attend college in the fall and continue playing softball at the collegiate level.  Her field of study is Secondary Education.  An active member of the CUMC Youth group, Jana serves in a leadership role and is a role model to others.  Jana began at- tending Creedmoor United Methodist Church around the age of 4 and has grown up in the church.  Jana has a very busy schedule with academic studies, work, and her participation in sports.

Her words of wisdom:

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8

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Grace is God's unmerited favor.  That is, grace is God doing good for us that we do not deserve. In the Bible, grace

and mercy are like two heads of the same coin.  Mercy is God withholding judgment or evil that I deserve; grace is God giv- ing me blessing or good that I do not deserve. Because of God's mercy, I do not receive the judgment of God against my sins; because of God's grace, I receive eternal life and a promise of heaven though I do not deserve them.  Both mercy and grace come to me though the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Grace is God's sufficiency or God's fullness in the life of the believer. God told Paul, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). That is, the grace of God in Paul enabled him and empow- ered him in his weakness.  Another verse states, "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always hav- ing all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:8). God's grace working in us supplies the sufficiency whereby we may abound to every good work.  I like to call grace "God's enoughness." By this, I mean that God is enough for us no matter what situation we face.

  This being the case, you can see that grace is, first of all, necessary for salvation. Ephesians 2:8 states, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. " One aspect of salvation is called justification. That is the act by which we are declared just (righteous) before God on the basis of the payment Jesus Christ made for our sin.  The Bible clearly teaches that we are justified by the grace of God (Romans 3:24; Titus 3:7).

But not only are we saved by the grace of God--we also serve the Lord and live the Christian life by the grace of God.

So, obviously, we also need the grace of God. We need it first of all for salvation. Without the grace of God, we cannot have eter- nal life. However, we also need the grace of God for our daily walk with God. We are weak and prone to stray. Jesus told us that   we can do nothing without Him (John 15:5).  But God provides daily strength through His grace working in us. We should seek this grace for living from him.  Then, we should believe that He will provide what He has promised and walk with assurance that

His grace is working in us.

again.

Witness Moments

Pictorial Directory in the

works!!!!

The  Pictorial Directory Committee met and signed a contract with Olan      Mills to begin the process of making a new Creedmoor United     Methodist Pictorial Directory.

June 2

nd

and 3

rd

                        have been set aside for making the family portraits in the Fellowship Hall.  More information including how and when to sign up for your portraits will be available shortly.

Special  Thanks

The family of Anne Dixon would like to

thank the church family for all their prayers and acts of kindness . A special thanks to Pastor Bob and Charles Lancaster for their kind words at the service, to Sue Garner for her faithfulness at the organ, and enough can't be said for the ladies of the church who provided such a delicious meal for the family afterwards. We are so blessed to have such a special church family. Thank you again.

Love to you all,

Betty and family

What is Grace ?  -   He Will Change Us ……………..

Anyone willing to volunteer with Bible School the last week of June is encour- aged to attend our Bible School planning meetings.

Anyone age 12 - 102 is invited to help with Bible School.  You have a guaran- teed spot in which you can assist us, whether you stay at home, work, will be out of town that week, or plan to attend our Bible School.  We need men

and women with various abilities to help with preparations.  This will help us have a fun and meaningful Bible School for children.

PLANNING MEETINGS!!!

Sunday, May 4, 4:00 in fellowship hall - all volunteers

Sunday, June 8, 4:00 in fellowship hall - all volunteers Saturday and Sunday, June 21 and 22 - set up for Bible School

Friday, June 27, at 7:00 p.m. Bible School program and ice cream social

Any questions can be directed to Kathleen Hagerty, 528-0090.

CALLING ALL PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS!!!  Please mark your cal- endar for June 23 - 27, mornings from 9:00 - 12:00 to bring children from our church, visiting relatives, and neighbors.  That's right - any child who could use a good dose of fun, scripture verses, songs, games, drama, and crafts is invited to join us.

The Creedmoor United Methodist Church adopted a stretch of Highway 50 that begins at the in- tersection of Highways 56 and 50 and runs toward Raleigh for two miles.

We love doing our part to help clean our environment each spring and fall.   Approximately 16 people showed up to help on April 20 .  We spend a few minutes partaking in a light lunch and

th

making a master plan to attack the project.  We were blessed with a newcomer Susan Hartner and beautiful weather.  We usually complete the adventure in about an hour.

Beautiful blaze orange vests … free,  30 garbage bags …$5.00.

Fellowship with the adults and spend time with the youth ….priceless.

Thanks to all who participated and for the rest of you…think about joining us in the fall.

Corey Phillips

Corey was recognized by the Duke Talent Identification Program for his scores on the SAT test which is a college entrance exam.  Corey ranked in the top 10 percen- tile for all 7

th

graders who took the test in 16 states.

His scores also exceeded scores of half of the juniors and seniors tested.  Corey did very well in math.  He will attend a recognition ceremony at Campbell University on May 13.

WAY TO GO COREY!!!

Page 4

Annual Highway Pickup Report and Thanks

Calling All

Volunteers!!!

Night of the Stars

Granville County Schools presented the Night of the Stars in April at the South Granville High School.

Our very own Jessica Lancaster, Amanda Gates and Courtney Phillips displayed their musical talents during the performance.

Nice Job Girls!!!